Seventeen-year-old Antoinette Ochoa and her group warm up near the Cable Center at the University of Denver. The group is trying to raise awareness of chronic disease.

Sen. John McCain leaves the Alan Gerry Cable Center at the University of Denver after giving a foreign policy speech on May 27, 2008.

Audience members listen as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks at Denver University on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Denver. During his speech McCain faulted both Republicans and Democrats on their efforts to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Zoe Williams, of CODEPINK, protest the Iraq War during Sen. John McCain's speech at DU on May 27, 2008.

John McCain shakes hands with supporters at DU on May 27, 2008.

Supporter listen to Sen. John McCain at DU where he spoke about working toward a world without nuclear weapons.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona gave a major speech on nuclear weapons security this morning at the Cable Center at the University of Denver.

McCain called for talks with China to negotiate a temporary halt to production of nuclear weapons-grade material and with Russia on a new treaty to destroy more nuclear weapons.

“Today we deploy thousands of nuclear warheads,” McCain said.

“It is my hope to move as rapidly as possible to a significantly smaller force.” He did not set a specific goal but said the number would be consistent with U.S. security and global commitments.

During McCain’s remarks, a protester in the audience had a sign that said “Iraq vets against the war.” Another shouted “end this war” at the stage.

Both of them and a third protester were escorted out.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee received loud applause and cheers when he said, “I will never surrender in Iraq, my friends.”

He added, “Our American troops will come home with victory and honor. And that’s the message to my friends. And we are winning.”

At that point McCain said, “One thing we don’t do is interfere with other people’s right to free speech, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with these people.”

Before the interruption, McCain’s prepared speech focused on his world vision.

“Innovation and energetic American leadership is as vital to the world’s future today as it was during the Cold War,” he said. “To be an effective leader in the 21st century, however, it’s not enough to be strong, we must be a model for others.

“There’s no such thing as good international citizenship. And America must be a good citizen of the world, leading the way to address global warming and our environment…and engaging the world in a broad dialogue about the danger of extremists.”

McCain referred to President John F. Kennedy warning against the spread of nuclear weapons. He said the United States could not “ignore or minimize” the threat posed by nuclear weapons in countries such as Iran and North Korea.

He said he shared the dream of President Ronald Reagan of a day when nukes would be “banished for the face of the earth.”

McCain said: We will only end this era of nuclear proliferation if we transcend our differences, combine our energies (and) learn from our past mistakes

“As president, I will pledge to continue America’s current moratorium on testing that doesn’t undermine the security or viability of our nuclear deterrent.

“I would only support the development of any new type of nuclear weapon that is absolutely essential for the viability of our deterrent, that results in making further decreases in the size of our arsenal.”

McCain urged collaboration with the international community to achieve the goal.

McCain closed his speech after about 22 minutes: “I want to keep the country I love and have served all my life secure in our freedom. I want to rise to the challenge of our times.

“No matter how dangerous the threats we face in our day it still remains in our power to make a better world than the one we inherited. And that my friends, is what I’m running for president to do.”

Former senator and CU president Hank Brown introduced McCain.

“Those who understand his commitment to integrity, his ability to learn from experiences, will find he has an abiding commitment to principle and a love for our nation that’s unparalleled ” Brown said. “He fights for what he sees is right rather than what is popular for the moment. It should surprise no one here that John is very careful about committing U.S. troops, but once committed, he never shrinks from supporting them, whether it’s popular or not.”

A sign on the stage set the tone: “A stronger nation, a safer world.”

More than 400 people had jammed into the Cable Center after standing in a line to get in.

Among those in attendance were Bob Schaffer, GOP candidate for U.S. Senate; Mary Smith, chair of the Denver County Republicans; Greg Maffei, president of Liberty Media; and former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez.

The doors had opened to the public at 8:00 as rain and drizzle darkened the sky.

Part of the security screening at the Cable Center required attendees to put their umbrellas in a blue plastic bin before going through a metal detector.

Today’s DU event was free, but parking at a nearby lot was $10, cash only.

McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, will hold a $500- to $5,000-a-person fundraiser at The Stampede in Aurora later today.

Spain came under repeated attack starting Thursday in what authorities called linked terrorist incidents, when a driver swerved a van into crowds in Barcelona’s historic Las Ramblas district, killing more than a dozen people and injuring scores of others. Early Friday, an attempted attack unfolded in a town down the coast

If there’s one superhero character whose rise might be most tied to the events of World War II, it is Captain America, who emerged from the minds of legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and sprung forth from an iconic 1941 debut cover on which Cap smacks Hitler right in the kisser.

A customer dining at Washington’s Oceanaire restaurant noticed an unusual line at the bottom of his receipt: “Due to the rising costs of doing business in this location, including costs associated with higher minimum wage rates, a 3% surcharge has been added to your total bill.”